Chapter 34: The proposal

Chapter 34: The proposal

Grace Clarke sits in front of her mirror. She was looking frankly at her own reflected image. She quietly admits her own truth, shy and cautious by nature. She knew from an early age that her parents didn’t love her. Sometimes she knew they hated her but no one ever told her way. A soft knock on her bedroom door made her turn around watching as the door opens.

“Where are you, Grace?” the older woman steps inside.

“Morning, grandmother,” she quickly stood to greet her. “Is something wrong?”

“You tell me, as I get the idea you are hiding.” The older woman sits down in a nearby chair. She looks around the almost barren bedroom. She knew why it looks like this. She will have a word with William. He wasn’t fulfilling his part of the deal.

Grace has learned growing up to always be honest with her grandmother. She takes a deep breath now looking nervous.

“I have a strange question,” she said looking hesitant.

“What is it? You know you can talk with me.”

“Why do my parents hate me?”

“What made you asked that, Grace?”

“You are the only one who ever loved me. I am not sure William and Bette Clarke is my parents. I don’t look like either of them.”

“Is this why you are hiding in your bedroom?” the older woman watches her carefully. The moon of last night, she feels danger in the air.

“I choose to avoid them, grandmother.” She fiddles with her fingers again.

“Grace, there is something else. Talk to me, please. How is life treating you after college? Are you adjusting at the Home for the Elderly?”

“Umm, something happened,” she said softly looking uncertain now.

“Grace,” The older woman now stood in front of her taking hold of her hands. “Tell me, now.”

“I was trapped in the basement by someone.” She said quickly before her nervous tangles her tongue.

“What do you mean?”

“I think someone is following me. I sense danger. Grandmother, I know this sounds strange but I think I should marry.”

“You have someone in mind?”

“His name is Jesper Strange.” She said sounding almost relieved.

The groundskeeper watches Jesper digging another grave. One thing about him, he was hard working with a precision of a man who know what he wants. The man looks down at the digital cheque on the iPad. His eyes again look at the man working. He reached for his phone and let a quick message.

Jesper stopped digging to retrieve his phone. A quick look made him look towards the window where the groundskeeper was standing. He carefully sticks his shovel into the ground before purposefully walking towards the main building. He knocks before opening the door.

“Yes sir?”

The groundskeeper handed him the iPad. “What are your plans now?”

Jesper looks at all the numbers. He slowly looked towards the other man. “I am going to ask a young woman to marry me.” He said quietly.

“You believe money buys happiness?” the groundskeeper questions.

“No sir, but it can create a bit of protection. I grew up poor, I accepted that but she deserves more. I am hopeful she likes me.” He said sincerely.

“Should she accept, where do you intent to live?”

“The choice is hers, sir. However, I would like to keep working here.”

“As what? Grave-digger or cross maker?”

“Both, as it has given me stability.” He said matter of fact.

“Okay but first go talk with her. You should get proper clothes.” The man managed to briefly smiles.

Grace sits nervously in the living room. She keeps looking towards her grandmother who recently had a heated conversation with her parents. She started to realized it would appear there were gaps of memory loss in her daily life. As she sits motionless, she now starts thinking about the man she hopes to marry. She has sometimes spied on him, knowing him to be hard-working and honest. He did seem sometimes cautious and almost withdrawn. That one time she has introduced herself to him, it was a very positive moment for her.

She made a point of staying hidden just watching him and dreaming silly things. The moment the doorbell ring, everyone in the living room was quiet and watchful. She can hear the steps of the butler opening the door. A brief conversation before he returns. In his hand was a bunch of roses of various colors. Attach was a note, she notices once the butler stood in front of her.

“Miss Grace, these are for you.” He said politely.

As she reached for the flower, her mother suddenly demanded that she see the card. Grace has already taken hold of it. “No, it’s address to me, mother.” She said softly.

“You are a young girl living under our roof. We will decide who you are going to be friends with Grace.”

“Enough Bette,” the sudden stern voice of her grandmother made her look nervous.

“Mother, you know I am doing what’s best for Grace. The girl barely has any friends, now this? How can you trust this?”

“My office, right now.”

Grace watches them all leave the living room. She carefully and shyly looks around before she opened the small envelope.

“I offer friendship,”

“I offer kindness,”

“I offer trust and loyalty,”

“I am in love, hope you have a good day, Jesper Strange,” she read out loud.

The shattering of something broken caught her attention. She carefully holds onto the note now making her way upstairs. She stood in front of the office door that was slightly ajar.

“I told you to follow my rules to the letter, Bette.” Her grandmother said in a firm precise voice.

“You are an old fool madame. Who is this idiot who wants to intrude into our lives? I already have a most suitable candidate for Grace to marry.”

“This isn’t for you to decide, Bette.”

“I raised the bloody child. I never wanted her.” The ugliness in her voice shocks the young woman behind the door.

“You were rewarded for that. You think I am blind but I am aware of your disgusting habits. It’s time Grace Clarke become her rightful person. She will marry the man who send those flowers.” The old woman’s voice resolute.

Grace wanted to pushed the door open but something invisible still her hand. Instead, she found herself carefully walking away from the door.

“Miss Clarke,” the butler waits for her.

“Yes, sir?” she feels nervous.

“Madame Clarke told me to give this to you. You should hurry and leave. The car and driver are waiting. He knows what he must do.”

Once she was seated in the vehicle she briefly looked back towards the mansion on the hill. She saw her beloved grandmother. She briefly waved her hand before she moved away from the window. She quickly opened the envelope. Inside she found two wedding rings. She read the inscription, names and dates for today.